Movably mounted figure toy



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MOVABLY MOUNTED FIGURE TOY Filed Dec. 30, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l W- JHNSIM IETML MOVABLY MOUNTED FIGURE TOY Filed Dec. 30, 1954 United States Patent 2,757,481 MOVABLY MOUNTED FIGURE TOY Paul S. Johnson and Sherman K. Warner, New Britain, Conn.

Application December 30, 1954, Serial No. 478,800 2 Claims. (Cl. 46-424) This invention relates to figure toys.

It is an object of the present invention to provide in a figure toy mouth actuating means designed to attract the attention of the observer, both audibly and visually, whereby to increase the life-like appearance of the toy.

It is another object of the present invention to provide in a figure toy a mouth actuating mechanism of the above type which may also be applied to the eyes of dolls or the like and which may be employed for various types of figure toys, for example those simulating a bird, a decoy duck, a dog, a doll and teddy bear toys, or the like.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide in a figure toy a mouth actuating mechanism bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, is easy to use and efiicient in operation.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a figure toy embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view shown partly in elevation and partly in section showing the manner in which the mouth actuating mechanism is operated;

Fig. 5 is a view shown partly in elevation and partly in section of a modified form of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a view shown partly in section and partly in elevation of a still further modified form of the present invention; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a still further modified form of the present invention.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, and referring more particularly to Figs. 1 through 4, 10 indicates generally a figure toy simulating the appearance of a bird for purposes of illustration and including a body portion 11 and a head 12, substantially as illustrated.

The body 11 is provided on the undersurface thereof with legs I3 which are secured to the upper surface of a resilient member 14 of subst'ntially U-shaped cross section (Fig. 2), and including a lower portion 15 adapted to be mounted upon a limb 16 or the like by means of a resilient cylindrical portion 17 formed therein. Thus, due to the resilience of member 14, which will normally be inclined to the horizontal, the figure toy 10 will nor-' mally be retained in the position of Fig. 2.

The body 11 is provided with a bore 18 extending inwardly from the chest of the body portion 11, the bore 18 being normally inclined when the base member 14 is in the position of Fig. 2 so that a ball 19 within bore 18 will normally be retained at the closed inner end of the latter. A plug 20 closes the forward end of bore 18.

The neck portion 21 of the figure toy 10 is provided with a substantially vertical bore 22 which connects the bore 18 with a bore 23 provided in the head 12 and extending outwardly below a bill 24 formed therein.

A lower bill 25 is pivotally mounted within the bore 23 below bill 24 by means of a pin 26, the inner end of the bill 25 being integrally formed with an extension 27 which is disposed above the bore 22. The bill 25 is weighted so that the latter is normally disposed in the open relationship to the upper bill 24 in the manner shown in Fig. 2 under the action of its own weight.

It will be noted that the undersurface of the upper bill 24 is concave and is adapted to receive therewithin the upper convex surface of bill 25 when the bills are in closed relationship, as shown in Fig. 3.

A sleeve 28 is mounted within the bore 22 and pivotally mounts at the lower end thereof an L-shaped pendulum 29 by means of a pin 30, the pendulum 29 being adapted to normally hang in the position of Fig. 2 under its own weight. The upper portion of the pendulum 29 and the extension 27 are provided with vertically aligned openings through which pass a wire 31, the upper end of the wire 31 being prevented against downward displacement through the opening in extension 27 by means of a freely mounted washer 32 and a nut in the upper end of the wire. Thus, the wire 31 may move freely upwardly through the washer 32 and the opening in extension 27 although its downward displacement therethrough is prevented by the knot of the upper end thereof. The lower end of the wire 31 is prevented against upwardly displacement through the opening in the upper portion of the pendulum 29 by means of a washer 33 and a knot provided at the lower end thereof, the wire 31 being adapted to pass downwardly freely through the opening in the pendulum 29 and washer 33, although its upward displacement therethrough is limited by the knotted portion thereof. It will be noted that the length of the wire 31 is such that while it connects the extension 27 with the upper portion of pendulum 29, both the bill 25 and the pendulum 29 when the figure toy is in the position of Fig. 2 are permitted to assume their normal positions under their own weight.

In operation, upon the movement of the figure toy upon the spring base 14, the ball 19 will roll toward the other end of the bore 18 (Fig. 4), the ball striking pendulum 29 to draw the wire 31 in extension 27 downwardly and to move the bill 25 upwardly against the upward bill 24. This contact will also effect a chirping sound as well as attracting the attention of the observer visually. The toy may also be held in one hand and moved thereby to effect the same result. It will be readily apparent that the toy may be mounted on fences, anything that sways andshakes, on cars, Windshields, or other similar places. The toy can be manufactured of plastic, metal, wood, hard composition, or other suitable material. Thus, when the toy moves sideways, backwards and forwards to any position without tapping the metal plate 14, the toy will chirp.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 5, there is shown a modified form of the invention indicated generally at 35 and simulating the appearance of a duck, The toy includes a body portion 36, a neck 37 and a head 38, the breast portion of the body 36 being provided with the inwardly extending bore 18 in a manner similar to the first form of the invention be used as a decoy for ducks. It will be noted that here again the head 38 is" integrally formed with an upper bill 39 and pivotally mounts a lower bill 40 corresponding to the bill 25 of the first form.

In other respects the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5 is the same as that shown in Figs. 1 through 4 and like reference numerals identify like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 6, there is shown In this manner the toy may a still further modified form of the present invention indicated generally at 41 and including a hollow body portion 42 to the upper end of whichis rotatably secured a hollow head 43, the body 42 and head 43 simulating the appearance of a baby in the manner of a doll. is integrally formed at the base of the skull with a thickened portion 44 which cooperates with a thickened portion 45 provided inwardly at the mouth to mount a hollow tube 46, the latter being inclined downwardly and forward when the doll is in the position of Fig. 6. The thickened portion 45 also mounts a vertical tube 47, the lower end of which communicates with the interior of tube 46, the tube 47 being disposed at substantially right angles to tube 46 and being open at both ends. An L-shaped pendulum 48 is pivotally mounted at the lower end of the tube 47 by means of a pin 49, the pendulum 48 extending downwardly into the tube 46 in the path of a freely rolling ball 50 provided therein. Thus, as the doll 41 is tilted the ball 50 will roll from end to end of the tube 46, in the position of Fig. 6, strik ing the pendulum 48 and displacing it from its normal position due to its own weight.

An eyeball 51 disposed behind an eye opening 52 provided-in head 43 is rotatably mounted by means of a pin 53 a counterweight 54 being secured to the undersurface of the eyeball 51 and serving to retain the latter normally in a closed position with the pupil 55 disposed downwardly. A link 55 is secured to the eyeball 51, extending rearwardly from the eyeball and terminating in a perforated end 56 to which is secured the upper end of a wire 57 which extends downwardly within tube 47. The lower end of the wire 57 is connected to the perforated upper portion of the pendulum 48 in a manner similar to the first form. Thus, when the doll 41 is moved so as to vary the angulation of the tube 46, the freely rolling ball 50 will strike the pendulum 48 (Fig. 6) to draw the wire 57 downwardly and to rotate the eyeballs 51 into the open position to simulate a lifelike appearance of a doll.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 7, there is shown astill further modified form of the present invention indicated generally at 58 and including a body portion 59 and a head portion 60 simulating the appearance of a dog. The body 59 is provided with legs 61 which are mounted on the upper surface of a platform 62, wheels 63 being rotatably mounted on the undersurface of the platform 62 and being moved by a pull cord 64.

-Here again the body portion 59 is provided with an elongated bore 65 inclined slightly from the horizontal and within which rolls a freely moving ball 66. The body portion is also provided with a vertical bore 67 which communicates with the forward end of bore 65 and at the lower end of which is pivotally mounted an L- shaped pendulum 68 which extends downwardly into the path of rolling ball 66. The head 60 is provided with a bore 69 which extends inwardly below the mouth of the dog and communicates with the upper end of bore 67 and within which is pivotally mounted a lower The head. 43

The above invention may also be applied to doll months without departing from the, spirit and scope of the invention. In the case of Fig. 5, it will be apparent that normal ripples of the water will cause the ducks mouth to open and close. It will also be apparent that the mechanism may be applied to various toys other than those illustrated, for example teddy bear types of toys.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a figure toy, said figure having an elongated bore inclined to the horizontal, a freely rolling ball within said elongated bore, said figure toy having a vertical bore open at both ends and communicating with said elongated bore, a substantially L-shaped pendulum pivotally mounted at the lower end of said vertical bore, and extending into the path of said ball, said pendulum being weighted so as to dispose its upper portion in a position raised slightly from the horizontal, and an externally visible member pivoted adjacent the upper end of said vertical bore, the inner end of said externally visible member being connected through said vertical bore to the upper portion of said pendulum whereby upon movement of said toy, said freely rolling ball will contact said pendulum to pivot said externally visible member in a life-like manner, said toy simulating the appearance of a bird and including a body and head portions, said elongated bore extending inwardly from the chest portion of said body portion and being closed off at the r outer end thereof, said vertical bore being disposed in jaw member 70 by means of a pin 71, the weight of the jaw member 70 being such as to be normally disposed in the open position of Fig. 7. A wire 72 connects the inner end of the pivoted jaw 70 with the upper portion of the pendulum 78 in a manner similar to the previous forms. Therefore, upon pulling of the toy 58 by means of the cord 64, the vibration will cause the ball 66 to roll forwardly to contact pendulum 68 and to draw the wire 72 downwardly which will cause the jaw member 70 to rotate upwardly to the closed position.

the neck portion of said bird, said head having an opening extending inwardly below an upper bill provided therein, said externally visible member comprising a lower bill pivotally mounted within said head opening and extending inwardly above the open upper end of said vertical bore, said lower bill being weighted so as to be normally displaced downwardly from said upper bill, said body portion being provided with depending legs fixedly mounted upon one leg of a resilient member of substantially U-shaped cross section, said resilient memher being adapted in untiexed condition to normally retain said ball at the inner end of said elongated bore, when the other leg is in predetermined position and to move the ball forward in the bore when said one leg of the resilient member is flexed toward the other leg, said resilient member including a lower portion integrally formed with a transverse semi-cylindrical portion adapted to resiliently engage a limb or the like.

2. In a figure toy according to claim 1, the inner end of said lower bill having an opening therethrough -alined with an opening provided in the upper portion of said L-shaped pendulum, a wire passing through said openings, and means for limiting the downward displacement of said wire through said lower bill opening and the upward displacement thereof through said pendulum opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 564,563 Hinrichs July 21, 1896, 1,361,449 Danner Dec. 7, 1920 2,294,241 Rober Aug. 25, 1942 2,460,128 Greenleaf Jan. 25, 1949 

